The 31st Baltic Jazz festival is held at Taalintehdas by the Archipelago Sea from 6 to 8 July. Traditionally, the festival makes a false start at Kasnäs on Thursday 5 July. The festival offers 23 different show numbers, with nearly 200 artists. The festival weekend is being prepared by 15 team leaders and over 100 volunteers.
By tradition, the festival focuses on different stylistic tendencies of classic jazz and offers homages to famous jazz legends such as Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Stan Getz and Oscar Peterson. In the aftermath of Finland’s 100th anniversary, the festival highlights also Finnish music and the development of Finnjazz. On Friday’s concert “100 Years of Finnsih Jazz Heritage” we travel through the history of Finnish jazz accompanied by Seppo Hovi and Uusi Suomi Jazz Orkesteri. Saturday’s church concert presents Oskar Merikanto’s music arranged to jazz for the 150th anniversary.
In addition to internationally known stars, Baltic Jazz presents local talent as well. This year’s “Baltic Goes Local” concert focuses on blues and local bands can also be heard at jazzkatu’s free concerts. The duo Julia Korkman and Claes Andersson, which recently released their new album, performs at Jazzkatu too. In addition to Andersson, some other writers visit the festival too. The authors Rafael and Jörn Dönner can be seen at Taalintehdas Library on Friday.
The Baltic Jazz would not be Baltic Jazz, without the Baltic Sea. Therefore, the festival began a cooperation with Saaristomeri Suojelurahasto as they wish to take account of the situation of the sea. Part of the Saturday’s “Picnic in the Park with ÅU” concert’s ticket receipts are donated to help the protection of the Baltic Sea.
Artists 2018:
Seppo Hovi & Uusi Suomi Jazz Orkesteri, Stockholm Swing All Stars, Turku Jazz Orchestra, DDT Jazzband, Jay Kortehisto, Jukka Eskola Soul Trio, Adrien Tarraga & Tomi Kettunen Gypsy Jazz Connection, Olli Soikkeli-Marian Petrescu-Teemu Åkerblom Trio, Pekka Toivanen-Petri Krzywacki-Wade Mikkola Trio, Keith Hall, Annimaria Rinne, Joe & The Shortcuts, Agneta Falck, Vocal Group 4U, Burning Furniture, Atomic Annie, Spruce, Merkkarit & Kai Kuutamo, Julia Korkman & Claes Andersson, SunCity Bluesbreakers, Kake & Company, ÅK Ensemble med orkester, Kimito Island Big Band, Alvi’s Dixie Stompers, Maarian VPK:n soittokunta, Southwest Coast Combo, Baltic Gospel Singers.
Festival magazine containing info about artist and the programme is available here: https://www.lehtiluukku.fi/lue/canews-8.6.2018/182823.html